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Mark Brennan

Mark Brennan

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Home > Teachers > Mark Brennan
Mark Brennan, born August 12th, 1954 in Cleveland, Ohio, began playing guitar at the age of 10. His first influences were from the Ventures and the British Invasion, especially the Beatles and Rolling Stones. Shortly afterwards he was playing in rock bands with his brother on drums, developing his ear by learning songs straight from records. Playing in a band became a passion.

In high school, he grew to love acoustic and classical guitar. He spent time playing acoustic music, influenced by The Eagles, CSN, Dan Folgelberg, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, etc. In the 70's, he headed a very popular Cleveland band, The Brennan-Cosma Band, which played a variety of acoustic and rock music, along with originals. He also took up classicalguitar, and began developing his fingerstyle technique.

Mark is a graduate of Cleveland State University (1980), with a Bachelor of Music in Classical guitar performance. He also studied Music Composition, and took many Music Education classes. After graduation, he began his private teaching career, teaching electric, acoustic, and classical guitar, along with music theory. He taught in various studios and guitar shops throughout his career, and currently has a private practice at his home in Fairview Park, Ohio.

In the 80's Mark took an affection to Progressive rock. With his band Polyphony, he was influenced by the music of Yes, Genesis, Kansas, ELP, Styx, along with a set of prog rock originals.

Currently, Mark is in the regionally successful Pink Floyd tribute band Wish You Were Here. The band performs faithful renderings of the Floyd classics spanning their entire catalog, along with a strong visual stage show. Here, Mark displays his command of the David Gilmour style.

Mark is excited to be part of JamPlay.com's fine roster of teachers. He's looking forward to extending his 35 years of performing and teaching experience to the JamPlay members. His philosophy is about developing a passion for guitar and being the best musician you can be; being true to yourself and developing a personal style, and truly expressing your heart through your music. (Less)

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  • Meet Mark Brennan

    Video Runtime of 5:00

Mark's Contributions to JamPlay.com

Mark Brennan has 37 videos at JamPlay, with 25 beginner lessons, 6 song lessons, 4 Lick & Riff Library entries and 2 entertainment videos. Use the tabs below to learn more.

Subscribing to JamPlay gives you unlimited access to all of Mark's lessons,
as well as all lessons from our roster of instructors.

  • Beginner
  • Songs
  • Licks
  • Entertainment

Basic Electric Guitar

Mark's Phase 1 series will take you through the basics of playing electric guitar.

Lesson 1

Series Intro - Guitar...

Mark introduces his Phase 1 series and covers some fundamental electric guitar basics.

Length: 30:12
Lesson 2

Amplification

Mark provides a detailed overview of amplification. This lesson has some great info for...

Length: 33:55
Lesson 3

Using Tablature and...

Before we start rocking, Mark goes over some tools and training necessary to every beginning...

Length: 12:52
Lesson 4

Right Hand Technique

It's time to get some sound out of your guitar. Mark begins with picking hand technique.

Length: 31:34
Lesson 5

Left Hand Technique

Mark explains proper left hand technique from the ground up.

Length: 10:36
Lesson 6

Natural Notes in the...

Mark teaches you all of the natural notes played in first position. He uses two classic...

Length: 25:42
Lesson 7

The C major Scale -...

It's time to learn your first scale - the C major scale in first position. Mark also...

Length: 21:31
Lesson 8

Chords in C major -...

Mark covers 7 basic chords in the key of C major.

Length: 35:14
Lesson 9

Chords in C major -...

Mark expands on chords in C major by showing full forms of the chords you learned in Part...

Length: 25:00
Lesson 10

Power Chord Primer

It's time to start making some noise by using power chords and palm muting. Mark gives...

Length: 36:43
Lesson 11

Open Position Minor...

Take your knowledge of the notes in the first position and start jamming on a simple pentatonic...

View This Full Lesson!
Lesson 12

Blues Scale Basics with...

Let's build on lesson 11 with an extended discussion of the pentatonic scale. For lesson...

Length: 36:27
Lesson 13

Movable Power Chords

Mark explains how to finger power chords and how they can be moved anywhere on the fretboard....

Length: 16:28
Lesson 14

Rhythmic Notation Part...

Mark Brennan explains rhythmic notation, tempos, time signatures, note values, and more...

Length: 32:14
Lesson 15

The Key Of G Major

Mark explores the key of G major in this lesson. He covers the first position pattern...

Length: 33:22
Lesson 16

Chords Of G Major

Mark teaches the basic chords of G major as well as some other exercises to get you acquainted...

Length: 34:28
Lesson 17

The Key Of D Major

Mark explains the basics of D major.

Length: 25:00
Lesson 18

Chords In D Major

Mark takes you through the chords of D major and explains some new ones that you haven't...

Length: 35:00
Lesson 19

More Movable Power Chords...

Mark continues his discussion of power chords. This time around, he explains the circle...

Length: 33:18
Lesson 20

The Movable Minor Pentatonic...

Mark teaches the 1st box of the minor pentatonic scale.

Length: 32:31
Lesson 21

The Minor Blues Scale...

Mark explains how you can transpose the pentatonic pattern covered in lesson 20 to the...

Length: 26:09
Lesson 22

Blues Boogie Shuffle

Mark teaches the difference between straight eighth notes and the shuffle feel.

Length: 42:33
Lesson 23

Amplification Part Two

In response to member requests, Mark added another amplification lesson to his growing...

Length: 40:45
Lesson 24

Introduction To Improvisation

In this lesson, Mark teaches some blues licks that can be used when improvising over a...

Length: 24:01
Lesson 25

The Key Of A Minor

Mark covers the key of A minor.

Length: 29:36

Rock Songs with Mark

Take a step back in time with Mark and learn to shred some rock n' roll classics.

"Big Yellow Taxi"Joni Mitchell

"Big Yellow Taxi" appears on Joni Mitchell's Ladies of the Canyon, released in 1970.

Length: 23:13

"Landslide"Fleetwood Mac

Mark teaches you the ins and outs of a Stevie Nicks' / Fleetwood Mac fan favorite. After Mark plays the full song demo, Marla (Mark's lovely wife) joins him and sings this...

View This Full Lesson!

"Aqualung"Jethro Tull

Mark Brennan teaches this classic rock song by Jethro Tull.

Length: 69:09

"Bad Moon Rising"Creedence Clearwater Revival

Mark Brennan teaches this classic rock staple.

Length: 35:05

"Down On The Corner"Creedence Clearwater Revival

Mark Brennan teaches this Creedence Clearwater Revival classic.

Length: 31:14

"Proud Mary"Creedence Clearwater Revival

Mark Brennan teaches this Creedence Clearwater Revival classic.

Length: 36:25

Lick & Riff Library Entries

Our Lick & Riff Video Library can help you break out of your standard techniques, and can inspire your creativity to move your playing forward.

Title Detail Genre Runtime Skill
Pentatonic Pull-Off Lick Mark Brennan demonstrates a nifty pull-off riff based... Rock Lead 3:17 minutes
Double Stop Pentatonic Lick Mark Brennan offers up a minor pentatonic lick which... Rock Lead 3:08 minutes
Mellow Blues Riff Mark teaches you a soft, mellow blues rhythm riff in... Blues Rhythm 3:45 minutes
Bluesy Comping Riff in Am Mark delivers a cool comping riff in Am. Mark blends... Blues Rhythm 4:16 minutes


Entertainment - Concerts and Events

Check out some concerts and events filmed by the JamPlay staff.

Soundcheck and Backline Blueprint

You will learn the parts of the guitar and how they function. Steve also discusses the importance of technique.

Length: 38:54

Wish You Were Here at the Cleveland House of Blues

You will learn the parts of the guitar and how they function. Steve also discusses the importance of technique.

Length: 96:12
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